BenRiach invests heavily in whisky stocks

The BenRiach Distillery Company – owner of single malts BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh – invested heavily in its whisky stocks in the year leading up to its acquisition by Brown-Forman, newly filed accounts show.

However, total turnover fell 1.4% to £41m, thanks to a ‘business decision’ to reduce sales of new fill spirit; meanwhile, £14.1m was invested in the company’s whisky stocks – nearly £10m more than in 2014 – raising the value of BenRiach’s bulk stocks to £52.1m from £38.9m in 2014.

American spirits company Brown-Forman, owner of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, paid £281m to acquire BenRiach earlier this year from managing director Billy Walker and his fellow investors, South Africans Geoff Bell and Wayne Kieswetter.

According to BenRiach’s accounts, only £6.1m of its turnover was generated in the UK, with £8.1m coming from the rest of Europe, and £26.8m from the rest of the world.

‘Global sales of single malt whisky continue to be buoyant, and this is evidenced by the strong performances of all three brands in the year, culminating in the excellent results achieved in 2015,’ the accounts’ commentary says.

‘The directors consider the market outlook for 2016 to continue to be extremely buoyant.’